Fosston Responds To Essentia Health Expansion

FOSSTON, MN—In the wake of next Wednesday’s groundbreaking for a new emergency care facility at Essentia Health-Fosston, the City of Fosston issued this press release:

The City of Fosston acknowledges the need for improvements to emergency care facilities at Fosston Hospital. This need was formally recognized as early as 2009, when the City incorporated requirements for such improvements into the affiliation agreement executed that year. While the City supports efforts to enhance local healthcare infrastructure, it is disappointed that these improvements are only now being advanced—17 years later—and in the context of ongoing litigation related to unmet commitments under that agreement. The City remains committed to ensuring that residents have access to the quality healthcare services they need and deserve. On October 26, 2009, following eighteen months of negotiations, Essentia Health, First Care Medical Services—a nonprofit healthcare system governed by a local board of directors—and the City of Fosston entered into an agreement that included the following commitment: “the parties acknowledge and agree that as of the date of execution of this agreement, First Care has commenced research and development of a project which is expected to cost at least $5,000,000 and includes: clinic and outpatient diagnostics expansion and renovation, renovation of the remainder of the hospital, including creation of private patient rooms which accommodate contemporary care requirements, nursing home renovation which converts at least 50% of the current rooms to private rooms, 14-16 of which shall be part of a “small house” concept project. Had these commitments been fulfilled as originally agreed, the project could have been completed at a significantly lower cost. Additionally, several other agreed-upon improvements remain incomplete or unaddressed. The City also notes the timing of the proposed project, which follows the reduction of services and the recent departure of multiple healthcare professionals—including physicians, advanced practice providers, a physical therapist, and nursing staff—many of whom are now practicing at a newly established private clinic in downtown Fosston. The City of Fosston remains hopeful that any proposed improvements will be undertaken in a comprehensive and meaningful way that fully addresses the current and future healthcare needs of the community. Additionally, we hope that local contractors will be engaged, as previously indicated by Essentia. The City of Fosston has engaged in multiple meetings with Essentia’s project team and remains committed to doing its part in the project.